Birds Circling The Eyes, a photo from Bagmati, Central

Photographer's Note

One of the most memorable moments in any of my travels around the world, was watching the sun rise at Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu. After a night of listening to music with locals, we decided to head over to Boudhanath at 3am. From 3am to 7am I think it is the most beautiful time to visit. It is no longer a tourist destination, but a religious monument to the locals. Even at 3am there were several people praying at the temple. You are supposed to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction.

And as the sun started to rise, more and more people would come to circle it. The amazing thing was the variety (from little children, teenagers, parents, and grandparents) all in different types of dress (traditional clothes, to stylish jeans of the younger generation) yet all shared in their respect to the stupa. The atmosphere is impossible to describe, as the chanting and the ringing of a giant bell. Every time the bell rang, these birds would get frightened and also fly clockwise around the stupa and settling just below the eyes. Yet, the bell would ring again and once more the birds would circle it.

One of the most spiritual moments I have ever experienced, and I cannot emphasize how amazing this stupa is early in the morning.

Angelillo, gary91, Click3, sabyasachi1212, Estaban, abulafia oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

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dawekato (2269) 2007-06-21 21:39

Wow, what a moment to capture! Maybe using a faster shutter speed would have made the birds sharper. Still it's a great composition. I usually don't like heavy frames, but I don't mind it here.

[workshop] [compare] +

fotoguy22 (4795) 2007-06-21 23:34

Hello David: Personally, I think what makes this a really good photo is the slower shutter speed and the blur of the birds. The color is a little too blue for my taste but that can easily corrected as dawekato showed us.

Greetings from Florida...............Greg

vincz (19113) 2007-06-22 4:01

Yes Bodnath is very magical indeed. You catched it at a very early time with a light that is stil a bit dark and I think your picture transmits this atmosphere very well. Great timing for the birds!

Angelillo (9374) 2007-06-22 17:10

Hi David,

Seeing this shot, it's easy to understand why you remember so well this moment. The stupa is very beautiful, but the birds add really great interest. A dynamic shot! Thanks.

Regards,
Angel.

gary91 (15348) 2007-06-23 6:07

Hello David,
I love this picture mainly for its great dynamism caused by all these birds flying around. The image is a great composition and translates very well the atmosphere you paint in your note. A great moment for you and a very good image for me !
Have a great week-end.
Best regards, Christian

Click3 (1886) 2007-06-24 0:48

Hola David...thanks for visiting my Gallery which has allowed me to discover yours with such meaningful captures as this one.
Decisive moment...fantastic lighting...technical masterpiece and a very sensitive note...TFS.
saludos from Chile,
Robert

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2007-06-25 1:36

Hi David,
Excellent view of the stupa, love the way the birds overfly the superb architecture and the Buddhist prayer flags. The blur effect works quite nicely IMO.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

delkoo (68) 2007-06-29 3:28

hi david
interseting shot with the blured birds in the sky above the stupa you created a nice mood, birds are like praying flags bringing prayers to the gods. well done
didier

Estaban (874) 2007-07-01 3:35

Hello David

Fantastic idea for the shot. It could be easily the illustration for the movie "Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock. It almost looks like birds conquered the world. Amazing photo.

Stay well, Wojtek

abulafia (4900) 2007-10-12 8:39

This is very good David
Impressive with all the birds. Great catch!
Harry

ikas (593) 2008-01-07 1:20

Dear Friend David,

This is very dramatic photo with good colors and detail. Flying birds and those colorful cloths or papers add interest to th pic.

Kind regards,

Irfan

smarcell (19965) 2009-05-05 0:12

Hello David, I happened to see this picture shown random in your front page. It is really excellent, with all those blurred pigeon, which makes it original and different from standard.
Regards Stefano